The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today sent a letter to Congress urging opposition to an anti-free-speech bill (H.R.8476) under consideration in the House.
CAIR sent the letter ahead of today’s House Committee on Education and Workforce markup of H.R. 8476, the “No Antisemitism in Education Act of 2026,”whose sponsor has a history of attacking and attempting to silence the American Muslim community.
The letter explains that the legislation raises serious First Amendment, civil rights, and academic freedom concerns. In particular:
- Kenneth Stern, the principal drafter of the IHRA working definition,has repeatedly warned Congress against codifying the definition into law because of its impact on free speech and academic freedom.
- The Senate HELP Committee subsequently postponed consideration of that legislationafter Republican and Democratic senators raised serious constitutional concerns regarding incorporation of the IHRA examples into federal civil rights enforcement.
In a statement, CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw said:
“CAIR unequivocally condemns antisemitism and supports vigorous enforcement of existing federal civil rights laws to protect Jewish students. However, H.R. 8476 goes much further by effectively codifying the controversial International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism into federal education law and conditioning federal funding on its application.
READ: CAIR & CAIR Action’s Factsheet: “Voices of Resistance Against the IHRA Definition and the Antisemitism Awareness Act.”
“Educational institutions should vigorously address genuine antisemitism, anti-Muslim bias, anti-Palestinian racism, and every other form of unlawful discrimination. Congress should not condition federal funding on adherence to a controversial and widely disputed definition that risks transforming protected political speech into evidence of discriminatory intent.
Thank you for your consideration.”
CAIR reaffirmed its unequivocal condemnation of antisemitism and its support for the vigorous enforcement of existing federal civil rights laws to protect Jewish students and all students from unlawful discrimination.
Yesterday, CAIR condemned Speaker of the House Mike Johnson for inciting anti-Muslim hate weeks after the deadly shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego.
Responding to a question about the Trump administration’s challenge to birthright citizenship contrasted with the celebration of U.S. National Team player Folarin Balogun, who was born in the country but spent much of his youth in Nigeria, Speaker Johnson said that “we celebrate legal immigration” and “expect that people will come, they will follow the spirit and the letter of the law, they will assimilate into our country and not try to transplant Sharia law and all these other things.”
Washington, D.C., based CAIR’s latest civil rights report documented 8,683 anti-Muslim bias complaints in 2025 – the highest number ever recorded by the organization since it began publishing civil rights reports in 1996.
Last month, CAIR commended Democratic members of Congress who defended American Muslims and constitutional religious freedom during a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing on “Sharia law.” CAIR also condemned Republican members and witnesses for promoting anti-Muslim fearmongering and dangerous smear tactics amid rising anti-Muslim hate incidents nationwide.
CAIR previously designated the so-called “Sharia-Free America Caucus” organizing the hearing as an anti-Muslim hate group after multiple caucus members publicly called for banning the practice of Islam, expelling Muslims from the United States, or targeting mainstream Muslim organizations and communities.
Community members who experience or witness discrimination, harassment, or bias targeting Muslims or other marginalized groups are encouraged to report incidents to CAIR at: https://www.cair.com/report/
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | TikTok | Website | YouTube
Do you like reading CAIR press releases and taking part in our action alerts? You can help contribute to CAIR’s work of defending civil rights and empowering American Muslims across the country by making a one-time contribution or becoming a monthly donor. Supporters like you make CAIR’s advocacy work possible and defeating Islamophobia an achievable goal. Click here to donate to CAIR.
You are receiving this email due to your interest selection from commercial media databases. If you would like to join CAIR’s media list, please sign up here: https://action.cair.com/a/newsletters — For more information, email: info@cair.com, CC ihooper@cair.com
END
CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com